The designer and TV personality talks to ELLE DECOR about his latest book, personal style, and what's next

Nate Berkus on the Things That Matter

Nate Berkus on the Things That Matter

It’s possible that virtually every home in America already has a touch of Nate Berkus. Whether a homeowner took an on-air tip from his many appearances on Oprah or his own Emmy Award-winning talk show, saved a magazine page featuring his stylish interiors for inspiration, or purchased a woven basket or chevron pillow from his Target line, they’ve brought in a piece of Berkus’s chic yet approachable aesthetic. His new book, The Things That Matter(Spiegel & Grau), continues his path into our homes, this time with an emphasis on the personal. “We all have a story to tell, and part of the way we do this is through our homes,” he writes, and each of the 14 people featured in the book—including Berkus—do just that with their interiors. Readers will love the peek into the lives of such subjects as Dr. Ruth Westheimer and Fabiola Beracasa, but will ultimately come away with the desire to exercise their own personal style, so that their home can tell a story as well. Here, we spoke with Berkus about the book, his quirks, and what’s next.

The staircase in the New York apartment of Berkus's friend Fabiola Beracasa

The staircase in the New York apartment of Berkus's friend Fabiola Beracasa

ELLE DECOR: Your book features a wide range of personalities and styles. How did you choose who made it in?

NATE BERKUS: The one common thread between all the people in the book is that their stories and their pieces really tell the story of who they are. Which means it’s not all my work – it’s a mix of my own homes, friends who asked for my help, friends who didn’t want my help, and then strangers I met through the show.

ED: What famous characters – living, dead, or fictional – would you have loved to include?

NB: I would have loved to have Diane Keaton in my book because her personal style is so distinct.